Hi all! I’m in a charitable frame of mind this week. Yesterday I was soliciting donations to St. Baldrick’s Foundation in honor of my friend’s daughter. Today I’m drawing attention to diaper need and diaper banks. Here’s some of what I have up at Babble today:
Can you imagine not being able to afford diapers for your baby? That’s a reality for one in three American families today. According to the National Diaper Bank Network, diaper need has a tremendous negative impact on families who must struggle afford diapers along with other necessities:
“Families unable to afford diapers are forced to choose between a range of undesirable alternatives that can severely impact the health and well-being of both their child and their household. Many families report cutting back on basics such as food, utilities or child care in order to purchase diapers for their children. Other families report leaving their children in soiled diapers for a longer period of time than they otherwise would have. Some families even resort to cleaning out or drying soiled diapers and reusing them in order to meet their diaper needs.”
To raise awareness, the National Diaper Bank Network is sponsoring Diaper Need Awareness Week. September 10-17. All this week there have been events in Washington including panel discussions and a conference as well as diaper drives at diaper banks around the county.
You can check out the whole post at Babble or learn more at the National Diaper Bank Network.
If you are looking for a local connection, my friend founded The DC Diaper Bank a few years ago!